Kappa Nu
Kappa Nu (ΚΝ) was an American college fraternity that was active from 1911 to 1961 when it merged with Phi Epsilon Pi.[1]
| ΚΝ | |
 | |
| Founded | November 12, 1911 University of Rochester |
|---|---|
| Type | Social |
| Affiliation | NIC (former) |
| Emphasis | Jewish |
| Scope | National |
| Colors | Purple and White |
| Symbol | Star |
| Jewel | Amythest |
| Publication | Kappa Nu |
| Chapters | 27 |
| Merged with | Phi Epsilon Pi (1961) |
| Headquarters | US |
History
Kappa Nu was founded at the University of Rochester on November 12, 1911. The founders were:
- Joseph Bernhardt
- Abraham Levy
- Joseph Lazarus
- Harold Leve
- Morris Lazersohn
- Louis Gottlieb
All six were pre-medical or medical students.[1] In 1917, five loosely connected groups (U of Rochester and others created by men who had left Rochester) held a convention in Rochester and set up Kappa Nu as a National Fraternity. By the 1918 Convention, Kappa Nu had 10 chapters. It continued to add chapters thru 1931.[2]
On October 14, 1961, Kappa Nu's 13 existing active chapters voted to merge with Phi Epsilon Pi fraternity. Of these, at three campuses where Phi Epsilon Pi already existed, those chapters declined to participate in the merger.
In 1970, Zeta Beta Tau absorbed Phi Epsilon Pi.[3]
Symbols and ritual
The badge is a diamond shield displaying a monogram of the Greek letters ΚΝ arranged horizontally along one plane below which is a six pointed star and above which are קנ (Kuf Nun - the equivalent letters in Hebrew) and having a jeweled consisting of 20 pearls and one amethyst at each the corners. The colors were purple and white.[4][3]
Publications
As of 1920, the fraternity had a semi-annual publication called Kappa Nu.[4] the Baird's Archive notes this was called The Reporter, published three times per year.
Notable alumni
- Mel Allen - Primary play-by-play announcer for New York Yankees
Chapter list
There were 27 chapters established. The chapters of Kappa Nu were:[1][4][3]
- Alpha - University of Rochester -1911-1961
- Beta (also Rho Sigma Alpha) - New York University -1915-1961
- Gamma (also Rho Sigma Beta) - Columbia University -1915-1926
- Delta (also Upsilon Rho Alpha) -Union College -1915-1925
- Epsilon (also Beta Upsilon Rho) - Boston University -1917-1934
- Zeta (also Beta Rho) - University at Buffalo -1917-1961
- Eta - Harvard University -1918-1934
- Theta - University at Albany -1918-1919
- Iota (also Upsilon Rho Beta)- Union College -1918-1961
- Kappa - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute -1918-1961
- Lambda - Western Reserve University -1919-1927
- Mu - University of Michigan -1919-1953
- Nu - University of Pennsylvania -1919-1961
- Xi - University of Pittsburgh -1921-1961[5]
- Omicron - University of Chicago -1921-1932, 1948-1961
- Pi - University of Alabama -1921-1961
- Rho - University of Cincinnati -1921-1923[6]
- Sigma - Tulane University -1922-1956
- Tau - University of California, Berkeley -1922-1961
- Upsilon - University of Arkansas -1931-1941
- Phi - Alfred University -1933-1961
- Psi - University of Tennessee -1935-1937
- Chi - Louisiana State University -1939-1942
- Omega - New York University (Washington Sq) -1951-19xx
- Alpha Beta - Cornell University 1951-1961
- Alpha Delta - University of California, Los Angeles -1952-1961
- Alpha Omega - Wayne State University -1952-1961
- Alpha Epsilon - ?
- Alpha Zeta - City University of New York -195x-1961
References
- Sanua, Marianne Rachel (2003), Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States, 1895–1945, Wayne State University Press, ISBN 0-8143-2857-1
- Our Antecedent Groups - Kappa Nu
- Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII-9–10. ISBN 978-0963715906.
- Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. 1920. pp. 217–218.
- This chapter originated in 1920 as a Omega Kappa (local).
- University of Cincinnati Going Greek: Fraternities